Really not a bad movie, but I really wouldn't call it a tear jerker if that's what you're looking for.
Brendan Frasier is excellent, but the movie isn't Oscar worthy to me, but it will probably get nominated anyway.
For me, just another "MY KID IS SO SMART " messages, which begs the question, "WHY ARE THERE SO MANY IDIOTS IN THE WORLD?"
I was not the only one sobbing in the theater.
Anyone who claims this film "lacks empathy", "leers and ogles in disgust", or is "fatphobic" is simply betraying their own lack of empathy.
what i find truly beautiful about this movie is the way every single character shares the same exact view of themselves.
all of them believe that they are broken people, and there is no way of fixing themselves, that they are "past redemption"
yet, each and everyone of them expresses it in a different way through their actions and emotions
the protagonist is the most obvious, he feels that he is a monster, he doesn't want to go the hospital because he did all of this on purpose. he doesn't want redemption because he is trying to literally self destruct.
the daughter has no friends, and growing up in a broken family made her think that she is not good enough to even care.
the missionary believes that his stealing and smoking has put him past redemption, so he runs away from home desperately trying to find something that will excuse his actions.
the nurse was labeled as "the black sheep of the family", and eventually accepted this label as a true part of her persona
the mother never recovered from a broken marriage and ended up mistreating her daughter, being ashamed of how she grew up to be.
all this people really are the same, they just chose different way to cope with this ideology.
some chose to eat, some drank, some started looking outward for another person to "save", and so on.
But in end the message is all the same, you shouldn't give up on yourself because you are wrong, you do matter and it's not too late.
yes, you abandoned your child when she was just a child, and yet she still loves you deep down and wants you to be part of her family.
yes you have no friends and your family wasn't the best but that doesn't mean that you will never be worth anything, someone will love you.
yes, you stole and disappointed your father, but stealing a couple grand doesn't matter. Your family cares about you more that they care about a mistake.
I could go on but i think i got the point across. this is just a beautiful beautiful movie, it's really sad and honestly tough to watch at times because it hits hard, but it's definitely an experience that we should all have.
Quite disappointing.
Too many scenes of characters being abusive to each other, without remorse nor acknowledging that they're doing harm.
The film could've had a lot of teachable moments but too many concepts, ideas and behaviors were left unexplored: disgust, intolerance, child neglect, religion, rituals, expressing gratitude etc. etc.
Fuck religious people and fuck Liz for enabling his disordered eating.
I really, really wanted to like this movie.
The subject matter is insufficiently explored by modern cinema and the more honest conversations we have on this topic, the better.
But this ain't it, chief.
Beyond the limited cinematography (which isn't necessarily the movie's fault since the play it's based on takes place in only one apartment - and that's kind of the point) the characters are also a bit too one-dimensional for a atmospheric drama and the scenes end up being corny instead of impactful.
Darren Aronofsky kind of has this tendency to push everything over the top and here it kind of turns into shock value schlock at times.
It didn't seem to help his cause that what he had to work with was apparently a high schooler's-level-of-depth-attempt at a essay about life, depression, regret and morbid obesity.
Watched this to see what all the hype was about and I still don’t get it. My personal opinion is this movie can be skipped.
Wow. What a sad depressing movie sheesh.
This is torture on another level...I mean, for me, not bredan. As an empath, this was a difficult watch, the ending at least. I'm so happy for the whole cast. The acting was definitely oscar worthy. The soundtrack as well as the ratio and the set and dialogue and the story ugh I could go on for days.
Extremely raw, harsh and sometimes even grotesque film, all personal touches from the director I admire so much, Aranofsky. He plays with an emotiveness and delicacy that is both disconcerting and paradoxical (and that is precisely what fascinates me) I really liked the film. Extraordinary direction and acting (Fraser deserved the Oscar for this role) Original script and carried out in an exemplary manner. 8/10
As with most of his movies, Darren Aronofsky make his protagonist and spectators suffer as much as they can. The movie tone is always dark and sad, but at the end there is some kind of redemption, and that's the moment that we as spectators have the reward after feeling miserable for the last 110 minutes. A though pill to swallow, but an excellent movie overall. Acting is superb here.
Brendan was great. This movie, however, was mid.
You shouldn't have to give as much of a compelling performance and be such an overly nice person to love a fat person. Just like you shouldn't have to portray the most perfect black or gay person to love them.
I'm only saying the despite aspect because the directors should not have put the focus on how undignifying it is to live as a big person. Why did they do those shot.
The performances give it the 8. The fatphobia could've passed, as it is a new era to at least not make something so focused on unsightlyness.
I wish they expanded upon the religious trauma, homophobia, etc. But that's ok. Fraser killed it along with the other main characters. Brandon is also big enough to fill the need for a marginalized identity. I don't think it took away the opportunities from fat actors as some have argued.
“These assignments don’t matter. This course doesn’t matter. College doesn’t matter. These amazing, honest things that you wrote, they matter.”
Do yourself a favor and watch this film.
Based on the play with the same name, The Whale is such an impactful piece. I found myself so heartbroken watching how the main character Charlie, played by Brendan Fraser, deals with his depression and life regrets. Speaking of Brendan Fraser, such a sweet soul and he played the role beautifully. I was able to go to an opening night Q&A with him speaking. My favorite part was hearing how they wanted to make Charlie look human despite how you may see other movies with actors in "fat suits". This movie also has no small roles. Sadie Sink and Hong Chau as supporting actresses uplifted the turmoil that one man’s suffering can ripple to the people around you. Definitely adding this movie to my list of favorite Darren Aronofsky films.
The Whale is a lesson in empathy that, perhaps, comes across as a little too heavy-handed, wallowing too long in its tragedy along the way. It's frustrating to watch - despite the underlying lesson at hand, the characters don't tend to show much empathy for each other. The whole movie just feels like people shouting at each other and not with each other. They're all laying their tribulations bare, but it takes everyone else way too long to listen, creating a repetitive cycle of door bursts open -> shouting -> someone cries and storms out. However, that frustration is genuine - the performances on display are outstanding to an ultimately redeeming degree. Fraser and Chau come across as the strongest, but each performance is still praiseworthy and keeps things engaging despite the repetitiveness.
Despite these compelling performances, the overall package tends to allude to itself and just misses the mark that it set for itself. Perhaps it's a sign that it couldn't entirely escape the trappings of its stage origins, but it certainly does its best to transcend them.
Brendan Fraser gives his all in this heartbreaking performance, a sublime control over his eyes with the ability to demonstrate pure kindness. I couldn't help it, I was immediately moved by his character and when Sadie Sink's character comes in it's where the magic happens. A clash between teen angst and fatherly love, The Whale explores themes of family, faith and honesty. A look at morbid obesity which felt crude and touching but I have to say some scenes felt purposefully comedic?? Every character interactions from the support cast felt meaningfull and elevated Charlie's character. Great performances, claustrophobic setting, peak father daughter drama and I swear I could smell that appartment. The ending might feel over-the-top for some but i'm on board with it. I got emotional in the last 15 minutes or so, felt cathartic and dug out my empathy.
Not amazing, but I enjoyed it. The performances were excellent, and they were more than enough for me to rate this favourably.
Devastating. Just devastating. The entire cast did an amazing job here. So moving.
WOW, what a performance! I hope Brendan wins the Oscar!!!
Just give Brendan Fraser the Oscar already!
I rated this a 5 out of 10. The story was touching and yes I cried my face off, but I agree with the discourse around this movie that it's exploitative and essentially invites the viewer to just gawk at the fat person. Fraser was great, but Aronofsky has no subtlty or tact.
I'm a large guy. I'm probably not AS large as Charlie. But I'm big enough that the difference is negligible because at some point you hit a weight where aspects of our story can be universal.
That being said, this was not a universal story of a big fat guy. This was overwrote with emotion. We don's sit around feeling sorry for ourselves at all times. We don't ALL stuff ourselves in a feverish attempt for suicide. We don't ALL sit around and do nothing and can't move on our own. It's bulls****. And while I understand that this is one story, when I heard about Brendan Frazier's performance, I was so ready to see this.
All things previously said, it doesn't mean that we don't have demons that we deal with. I had hoped/expected this movie to be a cathartic experience based on some pieces of truth to my life. But I couldn't find empathy for Charlie because he was a man that had just given up.
And the whole church kid angle was definitely weird and could have been done better. It's more than a bit stupid.
My Ratings
10 - I love it, regardless of quality
9 - Very good, might not love but very well done or might love, forgiving some issues
8 - Very enjoyable or Just OK for me but well done
7 - Good
6 - Watchable despite not liking the film/show
5 - Mid
3-4 - Not great, but got through it
1-2 - Very bad/You might be a communist if you like this garbage
Everyone's talking about Brendan Fraser, but Hong Chau and Sadie Sink are equally incredible here. This movie would not work without them.
Definitely not an easy watch. If you're anything like me, make sure to have a box of tissues handy.
When he said that he wanted to make just one thing right in his life i felt it. Such an amazing film
This is one of the movies that i can’t give score on. It’s took a long time to process the feelings after watching. One thing for sure is Brendon definitely deserves his Oscar. His performance carrying the whole film. The story can keep me interested throughout almost 2hr. and it can be executed in just very few sets. CG for his weight looks realistic. All the characters are broken and tried to find peace with themselves in their different ways. I think this film can be impacted on people differently. For me, it’s a beautiful film with excellent acting, but it’s not made me cry and I think I wouldn’t want to watch it again.
Amazing film! would probably rewatch
The Whale is a movie that genuinely lives up to the hype, but the danger of raving too much about it is that it runs the risk of diluting the simplicity and ramping up expectations. It is a simple, clever, beautiful, heroic, melancholy, sad and joyous story that plays out like a long one act play. The direction is economical, restrained and unrushed, making Charlie’s whole world the film’s whole world. With the camera on Charlie (Brendon Fraser) for the majority of the time, it allows Fraser to languidly use his entire acting palate, not only supplying the big, dramatic moments but all of the smaller, sometimes intimate and sometimes seemingly inconsequential moments as well. It feels real, and as simple as that sentence sounds, it’s an almost impossible thing to deliver. Director Darren Aronofsky has provided a warm and subtle film that integrates isolation, sexuality, being different, remorse and redemption without waving them like a banner. There are clever reveals and while you may have an inkling where the show is going, I don’t think you will fully predict the emotional gut punch coming your way until it's upon you. With all the superhero films and rushed-to-Netflix movies these days, I don’t see much superb film making these days, or many that I think are worth 10 out of 10. This is.
"I need to know that I've done one thing right in my life!" Wow, what a performance by Brendan Fraser! Everyone in the cast performed really great as well.
A very difficult film to watch, as it doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of Charlie's situation. I can see why Brendan Fraser won the Oscar for his performance. He has so many solo scenes where he conveys complex emotion with zero dialogue, providing a powerful glimpse into Charlie's internal anguish. While Fraser is the obvious standout, Sadie Sink certainly holds her own. I was also pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the story. The characters are rich and the writing is strong. In the end, the movie lands an effective emotional punch. Definitely had me on the verge of tears in the finale.
Certain scenes in the film felt very much like a stage play. While not a good thing or a bad thing necessarily, I would say there were a couple instances where the acting also veered more theatrical/melodramatic, which took me out of the story briefly.
As an aside, this is one of those interesting cases where, despite feeling like I knew the central premise in advance, I actually knew virtually nothing. I knew a single character trait. That's it. In that way, the movie acted as a powerful reminder that people are so much more than a single character trait.
Brooo I cannot stop crying. What an amazing film
The characters in this movie are relatable in their struggles with shame and dissatisfaction, yet their determination to improve their lives and help others is inspiring. The film's honesty and introspective nature prompted personal reflection, making it a thought-provoking and enjoyable watch.
Brendan Fraser's ability to deliver a flawless performance in "The Whale" despite heavy makeup and a prosthetic suit is truly impressive. His character Charlie, an obese man with a self-destructive eating disorder, comes across as completely genuine throughout. This is entirely due to Fraser. Hong Chau is also excellent as Charlie's nurse friend Liz. Both are the film's emotional core.
The rest of the cast, however, didn't click with me. The father-daughter relationship at the center of the plot never really struck a chord. Even though I really like Sadie Sink in "Stranger Things," her character here is too flat and one-dimensional. Furthermore, I found the door-to-door missionary Thomas, played by Ty Simpkins, even more annoying. Samantha Morton, on the other hand, is solid as Charlie's ex-wife, but doesn't get much to do either.
On a cinematic level, I commend the decision to go with the 4:3 aspect ratio. This ensures that Charlie regularly takes up the entire frame, which only makes Fraser's transformation more striking. Otherwise, though, the film doesn't have much to offer in this regard, as it is a chamber drama.
In terms of plot, "The Whale" is a pure misery-fest, which is never my favorite thing to see. The emotional speeches of Fraser's character are also often way too cheesy. They could certainly be included in a motivational calendar. At the same time, director Darren Aronofsky tends to repeatedly focus on Charlie's suffering. He groans, sweats, and agonizes—obviously, Aronofsky wanted to evoke shocked reactions. But that often just annoyed me. Also, his message about religion did not resonate with me.
This may all sound a bit negative, but all in all, it's not that bad. You need to watch this film for Fraser's acting alone. He consistently elevates mediocre material into something worth seeing.
This was one of the most moving things I've ever watched.
Some really good performances hurt by a very uneven adaptation of the play. Aronofsky is just all over the place here, wildly swerving between quiet anguish and what I swear was a Showa-era Godzilla tribute.
After all the hype I finally got to see this movie. For once it lived up to it. Not one bad performance in this piece.
I’m not gonna call this fatphohic, but Aronofsky makes some major mistakes with his direction here.
Yes, it’d be really easy to write this character like the nicest person who’s down on his luck, so at least it wasn’t approached in the most predictable, Academy friendly route. However, the more you see and learn about Charlie, the harder it becomes to feel any sense of empathy for this guy. At least that was my experience, but I’m generally not that easy to manipulate emotionally, so the fact that it works for so many people only highlights how good Brendan Fraser is. Still, it raises an important problem for me: you need to feel for him if you want the emotional pay-offs of the movie to work, so the movie at its core doesn’t quite land. Nevertheless, I acknowledge that this has some great performances, and I like what the movie’s getting at on a deeper level.
In terms of filmmaking and score I thought the movie was fine, it’s honestly a little disappointing compared to some of Aronofsky’s other work. The cinematography didn’t feel that special besides the choice to go with the 4:3 aspect ratio, while the music is a little cliché and overly reliant on dramatic string sections for the big moments. Overall, it’s a recommendation because of the risk taking, and its provocative attitude certainly feels like classic Aronofsky, but this material is not treated with the same amount of care as Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream or Pi.
6/10
Great movie, but this movie was not for Sadie Sink. She sucked! Brendan on the other hand was amazing! There are alot of strange scenes otherwise a great movie. Great question of the day. ANSWER. Is yes it is a MUST WATCH!
One of the best "character study" movies I've seen for a long time. The audience are asked to observe these layered characters for all they are; it's then up to you if you can find empathy within yourself to relate to this smorgasbord of individuals. I think it's pretty telling when people come away from this movie saying they struggled or didn't like anything about it. You've got to see past the ugly, hateful and even evil top layers of these characters and relate to them on a level much deeper than most contemporary films ask of you. Let these characters be presented to you and then connect with them as best you can. You might be surprised at what you find, and what that says about yourself as an individual.
Anyone who can watch the scene towards the end between Fraser and Sink without getting a little choked up is cold, callous and needs to work on themselves lmao
Easy Oscar win for Brendan I think, he elevates Charlie from what could have been an easy performance to laugh at and makes him so personable and real. Great movie, might give it another run through to truly understand the Moby Dick imagery dotted throughout in the near future.
Brendan Fraser’s ‘Charlie’ for me is a stunning, soaring performance.
The other supporting actors also synced perfectly in their roles.
I like to think I do not give 9 star ratings too easily. But Brendan Fraser’s role will go down as one of the greats.
All these fatties hating The Whale and all these schizos loving The Whale has got me thinking the real G’s are the ones that know it’s a decent film. No more, no less.
I have no real idea on the film’s take on the religious aspects it kept bringing up but the fact it acknowledged a link between atheism and unhappiness is cool with me. The Jehovah witness character was used as a two-dimensional tool to make (or straight-up not make) religious statements with but, in true Aronofsky fashion, it somehow works!
Don’t ever fall into the trap of thinking being fat is okay.
Kinda wild there aren’t more films about obesity since it’s one of the biggest issues with the west, particularly America, right now. I can think of Wall-E and that’s it??
I thought it was one of those manipulative movies about a disable person that everyone treats like crap. Of course the audience will feel bad for him. How could you not?
That's why the emotional pay off didn't work for me but I see how it could make people cry.
Quite relevant movie in nowadays obesity pandemic.
was not expecting this movie to be so boring . honestly I had high expectations and was very disappointed ... I didnt even finish the movie . :(
Well, this one hits you right in the feels. Great movie.
I doubt I can add much more to what has already been said about 'The Whale', but in a word: Bravo!
Brendan Fraser truly is sensational in this role. I heard about all the acclaim and seen a few of the standing ovations he has received and all I can say is that it is unequivocally deserved. Truly outstanding from the first scene (yes, even with that... ha) to the very last. It's great to see the dude that I first saw as a kid in 'George of the Jungle' well and truly back in the game.
One thing about Fraser getting all the (undoubtedly merited) plaudits from this Darren Aronofsky flick is that I didn't know what to expect from the support cast, and man are there some absolutely stellar performances behind Fraser. Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins and Samantha Morton are top notch, though Hong Chau is a cut above that trio - brilliant stuff from her!
There are some powerful scenes in there. I'm not one to cry with fictional works (my brain automatically knows it's 'fake', I can't help it) but man even I got major goosebumps and gut punches (pardon the pun?) from what's portrayed onscreen. Fraser, and Chau, are naturally the major reasons for that, but everyone - on and off the screen - deserves big props for this 2022 film.
The definition of a must-watch.
Wow, amazing movie. A felling like nothing else. :sob:
I heard the praise for Brendan Frasier during this movie's debut and thought "It's gotta be hyperbole for the sake of promotion. There's no way it can be worthy of that".
It wasn't. It was.
What was being said after the movie's debut was for the most part worthy and accurate. This to me was an absolutely brilliant movie, amazingly told. I wanted to cry multiple times through the movie. When it was over, I wanted to walk out of the cinema and directly in to another cinema that was about to show it. But there wasn't any.
So powerful. So heartbreaking. So beautiful.
The obvious point is that this is Brendan Fraser’s movie and he really nails it. I think I had a different read on how this ends up than others did so I think there is more here than some people give it credit for, outside of a movie that opens with a 600lb man jacking off to gay porn
Drama which does not impress. Reasons include the acting and the plot a bit flat, the plot construction a bit predictable and the ending a bit silly, the unimpressive cinematography, and the fact that in Europe such plot would not be realistic.
The 'English Lit' of it all is a bit pretentious and overdone but you can't deny the performance of Brendan Fraser and Hong Chau.
Absolutely raw and heart breaking. I was ugly crying my way through that last section.
This movie excels in many aspects. While the choice of the 4:3 aspect ratio may not align with personal preferences, it doesn't overshadow the overall greatness. The transition to a 16:9 ratio for scenes outside the apartment would have been a welcomed change, but it's a minor point. The performances of the cast are exceptional, contributing to the movie's credibility as a genuine drama. The inclusion of the side story involving a religious youngster adds depth, especially when his true motives are revealed in a moment of vulnerability. The subtle critique of religion throughout the film is well-executed, striking a balance that doesn't feel excessive but remains impactful. Despite encountering negative commentaries on Trakt, the movie is a must-see, and skepticism about such critiques arises, suggesting possible bias from offended religious viewers.
In keeping with the reoccurring message of The Whale, I will write an honest review. I did not like this movie. It was good, but only that. In fact, I firmly suspect that the only reason it will receive most of the attention is simply because of the subject matter - not the least of which provoking the ire of "body-positivity" types.
See, this is merely a family drama. Replace the morbid obesity with cancer, and this is the nothing unique.
As an aside, I'll say that I typically like A24 movies, and I enjoy almost all of Aronofsky's films.
To repeat, this is nothing special. On a technical level, it's great, but the story is flat: A man, Charlie, is dying, and wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter, and ex wife. The end. The secondary characters never mattered to me. The details of Charlie's life never mattered to me. When I first heard about The Whale, I thought it was going to be an emotional rollercoaster, however it just...wasn't.
When the credits rolled, I gathered that this was based on a play. In other words, I haven't seen the play - maybe it's great. Doesn't change how I feel about the movie.
The only highlight I have to speak of is Brendan Fraser - as our lead, Charlie. I have never liked Fraser, as an actor, and feel that he is one of the most overrated mainstream actors. That being said, he was great here. I can't give the movie a high rating, but any points will be due to his performance.
I don't know who I could recommend this to. It's a family drama that lacks the needed emotional power to make it work. It's a story about grief and regret, but fails to build the necessary pieces within to have any impact.
The film is pretty cerebral, much like the novel invoked throughout. I was prepared for that, but not to the level this steps up to. I suspect if I had been, I would've given it a 9 instead of an 8. The direct foreshadowing of the main character's death might be a little too on point, but the more subtle foreshadowing throughout provides a literary feel we rarely see in movies.
Honestly, watch when you're in the mood for a very deep movie on multiple levels. The weight and how people react to it is just the tip of the iceberg, no pun intended. The main story is just how hate, lack of understanding and empathy create issue upon issue in every aspect of our lives, especially from the pious religious lack of empathy. But it gets deeper into lack of understanding in perception. It also touches indirectly from multiple views from the different characters on the way we process grief, almost using eating as the metaphor for how some of us "eat" our grief and how that eventually can devour us.
In my opinion, the bad reviews and hate of this movie has gotten really stems from our discomfort with anything we as a society deem unacceptable, and obesity is definitely frowned upon with very little empathy or understanding. For the more intelligent viewer, the movie will get better as you ponder it after.
8, until you really let it settle. 9 overall after.
"Who would want me to be part of their life?"
I think Twitter has tried its hardest to ruin this film, but I enjoyed most of it. There are some heart wrenching moments yet sometimes I catch myself cracking up. Brendan Fraser acts his butt off.
I'm weak for TV plays, even though this was in a movie format. The script is at times over time top melodramatic and there is plenty of stage over acting, all characters are a slow burning exposé of self destructive non binary (on the good/bad scale) that employ misguided strategies for redemption.
It's a bit saddening how many reviewers are accustomed to being spoonfed any and all stories as entertainment with a positive message and a feel good resolution.
It's a sad and disturbing little tale this one. It's from a different tradition. Don't judge it for what it is not. These characters are not heroes. Antiheroes, maybe. And they are complex like people are, each in their own eye of the storm and their own attempts to navigate though.
Not really my cup of tea, as this is a one setting theatrical deep thought play like film, but it was well done and I could see the beauty in it. It follows a lonely depressed overweight English professor who teaches from home while he sulks in his weight and depression over losing the love of his life and missing out on his daughter's life, but gets a last minute chance at redemption when she and his ex wife come to visit him before his unhealthy habits take his life. The filming and character introduction by the way of flashbacks and present day flashes is creative and intriguing.
This has been on my list since it first started gaining award attention (117 nominations, 44 awards, including two Oscars) . Brendon Fraser has always been a draw for me since his early work and it is easy to see this is his best work ever (deserving his Oscar). I put off watching this because I knew it was going to be a hard movie to watch. The acting is superb by all 7 actors (4 primary, 3 supporting). The writing is good. This movie deserves a high rating, but my system says anything 8 or over are worthy of multiple watches, and I know I will never watch this movie again. It is too heart wrenching to watch the suffering. I give the film a high 7 (exceptional) but on any other metric it probably deserves an 8 (great) or 9 (profoundly moving) out of 10. [Drama].
That was such a dramatic ending, and so very sad. I can't believe it has ended like that, I don't know what to think but I'm feeling devastated.
Branden performance amazing story not.
Brendan Fraser is the best thing in the whole movie. The role fit the actor's journey of redemption well. Unfortunately, the metaphor with Moby Dick does not support the entire narrative, which lacks elements to distance itself from the original play.
Fraser is excellent in this movie which, for the most part, is an emotional powerhouse. It does lean towards too much melodrama though. With a leaner script, this could have been even better.
A well worthy Oscar win!!
"The Whale" is undeniably a powerful chamber drama that explores the self-destructive tendencies of a man unable to confront his grief and past mistakes. Although much smaller in scale, I could relate to his feelings of loneliness and emotional emptiness, as I too have turned to binge-eating junk food to fill the void, only to hate myself even more afterward. I just hope there will be a true friend like Liz near me in my last days.
While I enjoyed the film overall, I found the daughter's character to be a bit too one-dimensional and exaggerated, and her relationship with her father developed too quickly and mechanically. On the other hand, I found the way the film dealt with Charlie's relationships with Liz and his ex-wife to be much more complex and touching.
The inclusion of religion as a theme was unexpected, but it felt like it ended up absolving Liz and Charlie of responsibility. I would have preferred if their life choices were solely responsible for their downfall, instead of an external element over which they have limited control.
Nevertheless, “The Whale” still brought me to tears in several instances. It’s more of a crowd-pleaser, but it always stops just a step before exaggerated melodrama. The dynamic and cinematic direction also skillfully compensates for the limited setting and number of characters. For an Aronofsky film, it could almost be called sober, if not for the slightly sentimental ending.
"Do you ever get the feeling that people are incapable of not caring?"
The Whale is a movie that evoked mixed reactions from people. Some saw it as beautiful and tragic, while others saw it as an offensive, cruel film. Even praising any merits of the movie can be controversial.
On the other hand, I liked the film and connected to it. Not an easy watch but with a subject matter like this would not be. With a film marker like Darren, he approaches his movie's themes with discomfort, almost like the message is punching you in the face. Not that it's beating you over the head with it, but how it is delivered feels like a rock-hard whiplash.
Although it can feel stagy as it takes place in one setting in an apartment, and yet, everything feels real and raw. There's so much hurt here that it bleeds off the screen. Every character is flawed and awful in their human way.
Sadie Sink was great as Ellie, Charlie’s daughter. However, I think her character was a bit one-note, as the writer only gave her one angry emotion throughout. Not Sadie’s fault, as she still managed to shine through.
Hong Chau, who has been on a winning streak recently, is fantastic in this movie. She plays Liz, Charlie’s best friend, and nurse, that comes in and out of the story. We are aware of how bad his health is through her, and despite her many pleads for him to go to the hospital due to dangerously high blood pressure of 238 over 134, they both know it would not make a difference because he doesn’t have long to live.
Samantha Morton only has one scene but makes every second memorable. She was superb.
The supporting cast was all solid. But we all know the star of the show.
Brendan Fraser delivers a devastating performance that is one for the ages. I knew beforehand he would be brilliant in the role just by the fact he's working with a solid director for actors and how in interviews, Brendan sounds/looks like he is about to cry. Fraser himself has had a rough couple of years which has become public knowledge, often leading to either sympathy or mockery. I can easily imagine that that experience helped fuel his performance during scenes that I could suspect would be difficult for any actor to perform. Just thinking about it can easily make me teary-eyed. He deserved that Oscar!
Fraser has accurately described Charlie as a superhero because if he had any powers, they would be strength and human compassion. He quite literally carries his weight, limiting his movement around the apartment. His weight also makes him an easy target for ridicule and judgmental stares. He has mental issues and an unhealthy opinion of himself. He eats when he feels down or out of comfort. But his strength is the determination to keep going, and he sees the good in people no matter what they think of him. He has a positive attitude to life. It may seem a weakness to weak-minded people, but it only makes him resilient.
Speaking of that, I don't understand why people call this movie fatphobic or misery porn. Aronofsky always approaches his themes and ideas but in a harsh way. This movie aims for people to be more respectful to others rather than dehumanize them.
During my screening, two idiots wouldn't shut up and made fun of Charlie when he wasn't doing anything. After the film was over, they made terrible Whale puns. The movie harshly shows people's attitude towards overweight people rather than "torturing" Charlie. The movie is not saying, "Eww, look at him", but rather Eww, look at those fatphobic people. Those two dipshits only proved the movie's point.
Overall rating: It was an exceptional movie experience for me. I watched it with my mum, and we hugged each other at the end. This has never happened to me before after the end of a movie. The Whale is the most heartfelt and (at times) funniest movie Darren Aronofsky has made.
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Every light in his house is on, and yet not a single light is on... explain that..
I can't stand when movies have no lighting, it doesn't add anything, it takes away.
For that reason, this movie is a 3/10.
This movie has so many beautiful, disgusting, happy, sad, authentic, and devastating moments throughout. Brendan Fraser's acting in this is so spectacular as well as the other actors and actresses, and it all comes together to create such an emotional and heart-wrenching story.
Extremely raw, harsh and sometimes even grotesque film, all personal touches from the director I admire so much, Aranofsky. He plays with an emotiveness and delicacy that is both disconcerting and paradoxical (and that is precisely what fascinates me) I really liked the film. Extraordinary direction and acting (Fraser deserved the Oscar for this role) Original script and carried out in an exemplary manner. 8/10
What a Beautiful movie, just Beautiful.
An emotional drama with a decent plot, great performances, especially by Brandon Fraser, and nothing more..
Do you ever get the feeling that people are incapable of not caring?
Like a makeup mirror, the kind that magnifies your face so much it makes you a little bit sad and a little bit sick.
As someone with compulsion issues who is changing countries and leaving his (adult) children behind, this movie hung on me like a shroud.
Aronofsky is one of the best directors working today because he refuses to spoon-feed us the story but prefers instead to just lay the film out there and allow us to make of it what we will. Like a cross between Spielberg and Malick, there's often a story in there to be found if we're willing to do the work.
This made me want to die
This religious allegory by Darren Aronofsky is another exploration of redemption through the depiction of human degradation, a physical visualization of vital defeat through Charlie's physical appearance. That is why the insistence on showing the naked body of this man stranded in his own house, in his giving up life hidden behind the dark screen of a turned off webcam, his only point of connection with the outside world. Tempted by the angel and the devil, claiming his free will, it has in the difficult but sometimes superficial performing of Brendan Fraser the main point of support.
It was good, but not amazing.
strong acting, and amazing score
Brendan was incredible. Felt like that very ending moment was an "afterlife copout". The supporting cast was incredible as well...
And I cried like a bitch right before that. Things built up to that scene like a crescendo of drama - yanking the tears out of your face, squeezing your chest more and more as it gets there.
Reminds me of Requiem for a Dream in that sense.
this was so emotional, it actually gave me a headache.
in a good way... but i think i just need to re-hydrate
Do you ever get the feeling that... people are incapable of not caring?
People are amazing.
I don't care how many times Charlie tells Ellie she's amazing and cares about people, Karma is gonna be after that bitch. My god. What a terrible person. I don't know if it's the writing of the character or the performance, but that aggressiveness and pure goddamn evilness was beyond "teenage angst" and very hard to care for. Just cause the world is mean to you, doesn't give you the right to be a fucking asshole. Also, Brendan totally deserves the attention and the awards he got and is definitely gonna continue to get. What a brilliant, heartbreaking performance. At times it was almost unbearable and uncomfortable to watch because it's so authentic.
From a hard-to-breathe, discomfort through a half-dozen slowly rising emotions all the way to an unexpected moment of absolute soaring human triumph. Beautiful. Almost symphonic.
Great, film, had me enthralled for the duration of the film and in tears many times.
I understand what the ending wants to convey but I wish they would have shot it a little bit different because all I could think about was he died and crushed her didn't he. He fell over... died... and crushed her.
I didn't expect to care for it but it was an excellent movie.
I was Looking forward to see this film but it was such a disappointment.
What an incredible heartfelt performance by Brendan Fraser, with a supporting cast that is also up to par. Darren Aronofsky was able to deliver each scene with the impact and honesty that a live play would have.
That Brendan was able to deliver those emotional scenes under tons of props is nothing short of an Oscar winning performance.
We stay with Charlie for no more than a week of his life but we get to know everything he carries with himself: his regrets, his dreams, his shame. That ending scene where we get the relevance of the Moby Dick story had me sobbing the entire time, and laid all the experiences that I will eventually have with my daughter right in front of my eyes.
My perspective on the work of Darren Aronofsky is very variable: I love (and they are part of my film library) "Requiem for a Dream" and "Black Swan"; I enjoyed "Noah" and "Mother!"; but I was not drawn to "Pi" or "The Fountain of Life." Undoubtedly, his thing is to take his characters to the limit of their emotions and even their mental stability. We also see that in "The Whale." I certainly give credit to the terrific acting work of Brendan Fraser, who deserves an Oscar, as well as the achievements of Judy Chin and Adrien Morot, as makeup director and prosthetic makeup designer, respectively. But Samuel D. Hunter's script didn't wow me. Yes, it portrays the agony, the fear and the sensitivity of a man who succumbed to morbid obesity precisely because of the first two emotions; and establishing a relationship with his daughter whom he abandoned years before creates a dynamic on screen that is emotionally difficult to watch. But the theatrical elements didn't quite fall into place for me: the story arc and character development failed to move me as the story deserved. It's a good movie, but without a doubt the leading performance stands out more along with his characterization than the movie itself.
It was FANTASTIC. The script, the performance, the storyline, EVERYTHING. It touched my heart. A movie quite different that one might usually find in a theatre.
Shout by jamie wilsonBlockedParent2023-01-27T07:16:54Z
Quite simply a beautiful film, heartbreaking and so damn beautiful with a great role played by Brendan Fraser and a superb supporting cast, one of the best films of the year so far if not the best.